Melburnians are being encouraged to go further than Target 155 on World Water Day, Sunday 22 March - and use only 30 litres of water per person as part of the WaterAid World Water Day Challenge.
WaterAid Australia is a non-profit organisation dedicated exclusively to providing safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people. Thirty litres is similar to the daily usage of an average family in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
'Here in Melbourne we are aiming to consume no more than 155 litres per person per day. In the developing world they have to make do with much less, around 10 litres per person per day,' said Tony Kelly, Managing Director Yarra Valley Water and Chairman WaterAid.
'Clean water is essential for life, but over a billion people do not have it. Many women and children in rural areas in developing countries spend hours each day walking kilometres to collect water from unprotected sources such as open wells, muddy dugouts or streams. In urban areas they collect it from polluted waterways or pay high prices to buy it from vendors who obtain it from dubious sources. The water is often dirty and unsafe, leading to disease and death, but they have no alternative.
'What better way for us to celebrate World Water Day in Melbourne, than by understanding the value of water and experiencing what's it's like to have only 30 litres for a whole day.'
Thirty litres is equivalent to three buckets of water. Most Melburnians would go over just by performing simple daily tasks. Showering for four minutes with a water-efficient showerhead uses 36 litres of water; running one load of a front loading washing machine uses around 75 litres; and flushing a toilet just once can use up to 11 litres. Over a day, this is around 44 litres.
'If the WaterAid World Water Day Challenge will prove too challenging for your household, it's a great day to consciously meet Target 155 and set in place positive water saving habits,' said Mr Kelly. 'Cut your shower time to four minutes, mulch your garden and don't water it when rain is due.
'The importance of World Water Day, and of the WaterAid World Water Day Challenge, lies in our understanding that water is a precious and valuable resource and we should always use it as such.'
To participate in the WaterAid World Water Day Challenge, visit www.wateraid.org to register your support. You'll then be emailed a World Water Day Challenge kit with case studies, helpful tips and links to calculators on how to reduce your daily water usage. You can also enter a friend and they'll be contacted about registration.
Water savers can also have their challenge sponsored by clicking on the 'everyday hero' page of the WaterAid website.
'Participating in the WaterAid World Water Day Challenge helps to give people the basic right to clean water and sanitation, preventing disease. This allows more children to attend school and gives millions and millions of people around the world the opportunity to earn a living,' said Mr Kelly.
Further information
Visit the World Water Day website.